Delhi govt health scheme led to over 1,600 free surgeries

The number of patients who availed Delhi government’s scheme of undergoing free surgeries in the city private hospitals has increased exponentially to 405 in February 2018 from a mere six in March 2017, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, the Minister said, “Over 1,600 free surgeries under various categories have been conducted at private hospitals from March 2017 till February this year, as part of the Delhi government scheme of providing quality healthcare service to people here.”

Jain further said that during the same period, more than 46,300 high-end diagnostic tests were been conducted at various private healthcare facilities.

The Delhi government’s ‘Quality Health for All’ scheme, applicable to permanent residents of the Capital, pertains to providing patients specified high-end diagnostic (radiological) tests and surgeries free-of-cost at private hospitals, in case of delay in government facilities.

Significantly, does not have any income criteria.

“Out of 1,615 surgeries conducted between March 2017 and February 2018, 18 were cardiac operations, 214 uro-surgery, and 205 eye surgeries,” Jain told reporters.

He further said that among the 46,364 high-end category diagnostic tests conducted in the same perioud, 14,834 were MRI tests, 5,988 were CT scans and 852 PET scans, while 20,067 ultrasounds and Doppler tests were also conducted.

Under the health scheme, patients can get tests done at private labs/hospitals for free, if the same cannot be done at government hospitals for any reason.

To avail the scheme, patients are referred from Delhi government hospitals or polyclinics.

Jain also said that since the last two months, ultrasounds and X-ray tests have also been allowed under the scheme, after referral from dispensaries and mohalla clinics.

The Delhi government has often stated that among the metropolitian cities in the nation, Delhi is among the best in terms of providing health care facilities to its residents.

The Aam Aadmi Partyled government has claimed its biggest achievement to be providing free of cost healthcare service in Delhi government hospitals, as well as many private hospitals, to the underprivileged sections of society.

Delhi is one of the fastest growing metropolis, with a population of more than 1.6 crore, the government said.